English Translation of Second Part of Papal Press Conference

The second part of Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference given on the papal plane from Brazil has been published in English by ZENIT (see my blog post on the first part here).

This isn’t the official translation which is yet to appear, though the Secretariat of State is said to be working on it.

Like the first part, the Holy Father’s words are revelatory. As reported widely elsewhere, he discusses the subject of homosexuality and “gay lobbies”; his wish to visit Asia, and travel to Jerusalem where he hopes to meet Patriarch Bartholomew; his call for a “profound theology of woman”; John Paul II’s definitive “no” to women priests; the canonization date for John XXIII and John Paul II; and his desire for a review of "matrimonial ministry."

But he also makes some other interesting remarks which have gained less attention:

• He says that once a bishop, there is “always the danger of thinking oneself superior to others, not as others, somewhat as a prince. These are dangers and sins.” But he adds that the work of a bishop is a good thing and he likes it; the bishop, he says, helps the faithful to go forward and aids communion. Pressed if he likes being Pope, he replies that he does – “if you do what the Lord wants, you are happy,” he says. “This is my sentiment, what I feel.”

• He talks about his wish to be walking the streets but understands it’s not possible. He says he was a “street priest” in Buenos Aires.

• He recalls how he “couldn’t stand” the charismatic renewal movement in the 1970s and 1980s, saying at the time that they confused “a liturgical celebration with a samba school.” But he says he repented of this when he got to know them better, and believes that now the movement has done so much good for the Church. Charismatic movements are a “grace” he says that not only prevent Catholics from joining Pentecostal sects, but serve the Church and renew her.

• Pope Francis speaks effusively of Benedict XVI, saying: “I love him so much. I’ve always loved him,” and that his resignation was an “example of [his] greatness.” He says he was aware of concerns that his predecessor might “encumber him”, or make a “revolution” against him, but says instead Benedict is like a “wise grandfather” to him. “When a grandfather is at home with a family, he is venerated, loved, listened to. He is a man of prudence! He doesn’t meddle,” he says, and reveals that he has telephoned Benedict when he has had a “difficulty or something I didn’t understand.” Again he repeats: “He [Benedict] is a great man, he is great!”

• In answer to another question, he insists his spirituality remains that of a Jesuit, not a Franciscan.

• Asked about the best and worst moments of being Pope so far, he highlights a recent meeting with Italian bishops at the end of their ad limina visit, his visit to Lampedusa (“something to weep about” but which “did me good”), his meetings with students of the Jesuit colleges, and his encounters with seminarians and women religious which was “very lovely.” The worst thing: he had “very painful sciatic” in the first month after his election which he doesn't “wish on anyone!”

• What surprised him most? “The good people I’ve met…so many good people, so many good people, but good, good, good!”

• The Pope tells the reporters he misses Buenos Aires “at times” but that it is a “serene missing.”

• Asked about the Orthodox Churches, Pope Francis says they keep a “pristine liturgy, so beautiful” and that in contrast “we have lost a bit the sense of adoration.” God is at the center of the Orthodox Church, he affirms, and they have a “richness.” Consumerism has done us “much harm”, he says, adding: “so many times the ‘luxus’ of the West makes us lose the horizon.” He says we must all “read and reread” Dostoyevksy because “he has wisdom” and one can perceive “what the Russian spirit is.”

Comments

Thank you so much for sharing this information. It is really very nice to read on the Pope’s message at least, I get to understand on it further. This is the reason why translation services are important so that people will fully grasp the message of the Pope. I believe in him and I respect him. -http://www.conselltranslations.com/

Posted by charles harmett on Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 5:21 PM (EDT):

The papal apartments were renovated several years ago and are up to date. Things are made much easier for his staff and security detail if he decides to live there.
There is no good reason for the pope to live anywhere else. We are talking basic common sense here. This has nothing to do with humility. The same can be said about INSISTING on riding in a small fiat in Rio rather than accepting the suggestion of the security detail. The same can be said about the spontaneous 80 minute interview on the airplane or the placing of the beach ball on the altar of the church in Rome. In other words making things difficult just for the sake of doing so without sensible result. These kinds of gestures do not benefit the church one bit, not a single iota.

On the subject of Franciscan and Jesuit spirituality, there is a book, still popular in France, « Introduction à la vie spirituelle par une facile méthode d’oraison » published in 1616 by Père Joseph de Tremblay. It is an adaptation of St Ignatius Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises to Franciscan spirituality, Père Joseph was, of course, a Capuchin; he was also Cardinal Richelieu’s « éminence grise » and the founder of the French Intelligence Service

Posted by Old Sue on Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 11:08 AM (EDT):

;o) as my Catholic, Democrat friend said abt. Pres. Obama: “no one gives him a chance”. Of course she said that after he had been in over 4 yrs. Hmmm. I say, let us give Pope Fraces a chance. All Popes have their own way of doing things. Pope Bendict was an intellectual, & shy person. He did not relate to the public as well as some Popes, which is fine, some like that. He did accomplish what he wanted to.
I don’t know what you people are talking abt. “beach balls on the Altar”. Had not heard that one. Maybe it was a Mass celebrated at the ocean. The most beautiful Mass I ever went to was outdoors on a hill. The world was God’s Altar and it was beautiful…much more so than all the gold and candles in most churches. I have often wondered what God thinks of all the “things” within our churches. I like simple things as Jesus did and I loved our one Pastor who had a wooden chalice, made by a parishioner. It was so like one that Jesus would use. My opinion. Also…...
Remember that most denominations in America, are very critical of the Catholic Church. I know partially from marrying into a Protestant family and mostly it is “ignorance” on their part. I know someone who attended a Lutheran Church and the Pastor said to the congregation “Catholics worship Mary, only God should be worshiped.” After service this person spoke to her and said “Pastor, you just told the whole congregation a lie abt. the CC, the CC does not worship Mary, they HONOR HER AS THE MOTHER OF JESUS. The Pastor’s husband looked at her and said “I told you, you should not say that”. Pope Francis is aware of all this and he will change things and who know how many will “come into THE CHURCH”.

Posted by John Fisher on Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 7:54 AM (EDT):

Pope Francis says they keep a “pristine liturgy, so beautiful” and that in contrast “we have lost a bit the sense of adoration.” God is at the center of the Orthodox Church, he affirms, and they have a “richness.” Consumerism has done us “much harm”,

Isn’t Pope Francis in his behaviour and approach to the Sacraments and behaviour at World Youth Day Masses doing the opposite. He is helping pollute the Latin Rite. Isn’t he feeding consumerism by packaging himself as a man who does not respect the ‘pristine Liturgy” we had and desire destroying a sense of the sacred through his antics?

Posted by charles harmett on Monday, Aug 5, 2013 7:37 PM (EDT):

To deacon John
I understand your point. However beach balls on the altar,etc.. need to be explained. Many people seem to be wincing at the words and actions of Pope Francis and they all can’t be wrong.

In reading many of the comments about Pope Francis on the internet, I sometimes wonder if we Catholics have culturally become Protestants.For it seems that many Catholics are just looking for something to attack the pope about.

Posted by charles harmett on Monday, Aug 5, 2013 2:22 PM (EDT):

When someone becomes pope, shouldn’t that person focus their attention on the catholic faithful first, as through the example of the lives they live, they are the best evangelizers. Protestants and members of other religions do not need the praise of the papacy. In other words you clean up your own house first before inviting others over. I’m sorry, I have a sense of unease with Pope Francis. Everything seems so spontaneous.

Posted by PJ on Monday, Aug 5, 2013 1:53 PM (EDT):

I’m not comfortable with the pope “praising” the pastor of a Protestant sect, especially one which is actively poaching souls from the Catholic church.

Posted by Helena on Monday, Aug 5, 2013 10:44 AM (EDT):

Some things of Pope Francis mission in the WYD that NO ONE has mentioned, but were unbelievable:
- A Pentecostal church in the favela is located in front of the place the Pope spoke to the people. This church lead a vigil the whole night before the visit making a lot of noise and pestering the neighbours as a form of protest and resistance against the Pope’s presence in the community. When the Pope arrived, he saw the church and said “let’s go there to salute them”. He went to the church, praised the pastors, prayed a Our Father together with them saying that we all who follow Christ are His children. The church then opened its building offering water, the bathrooms and shelter for those who were attending the Pope meeting.
- In Campina Grande, in the day of the final Mass, a pentecosal couple entered a Catholic church asking to baptise their children and themselves into the Catholic faith. The astonished priest asked “why?”. The answer from the couple were two words: “Pope Francis”.
- In the final Mass there was a kid with a sign saying: “Pope Francis, I am evangelical but I love you. Thou art Peter”.
- Kardecist Spiritists (a solid small community in Brazil that follows a creed based in Christian teachings but completely different from everything that either Catholics or Protestants believe - e.g., they believe in reincarnations ) - are so astonished that they are broadcasting that Pope Francis is an very enlighted Spirit sent by God (in the lower key) up to that he is a reincarnation of St Francis (in the higher key) - either way, the hostility towards Catholics seems to be going down dramatically.
As a Brazilian, I say that I expect A LOT more to come….

Posted by charles harmett on Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 8:40 PM (EDT):

This pope went out of his way today to personally congratulate the muslims on ramadan. Usually this is done indirectly through a sub section of the vatican.

Posted by charles harmett on Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 7:52 PM (EDT):

to gemma
Thanks for the info on the jesuit situation.

Posted by Gemma on Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 6:30 PM (EDT):

One of the highlights of his 4-mo pontificate that he mentioned was the meeting with the Conference of Italian Bishops (CEI) -not an ad limina visit. To date, one of his most heartfelt homilies (about Jesus asking if Peter loves him). Very moving and he went around the Basilica greeting each of around 200 bishops instead of receiving them from the Papal throne. Coming from outside Italy though of same ancestry, it meant a lot to him that they received him warmly & considered him their own.

Regarding the Jesuit situation, from news.va: “Father Adolfo Nicolas, Superior General of the Society of Jesus responded to reporters who asked him to comment on the words of Pope Francis on the plane during his return flight from Brazil, regarding the relationship between the fact that Jesuits vow obedience to the Pope and the fact that Pope Francis is both a Jesuit and Pope. “Who obeys to whom - commented Father Nicolas - is very clear. As General of the Jesuits, with no doubt, my superior is Pope Francis. When a Jesuit becomes bishop, automatically he is free of his obedience to the Society and the obedience of the Society is the link that makes us one Body. Thus, the Pope is totally free to guide the Church and I - said Father Nicolas - have no influence at all, except that we are friends, but there is no ambiguity on the level of responsibilities.” I wouldn’t be surprised should he need a spiritual director that it would be a Jesuit. Abp Welby of CoE has made it known that he has a Swiss Catholic priest for that.

Posted by Ren on Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 4:25 PM (EDT):

One needs to be realistic. It is still too early to get a clear idea of where is Pope Francis taking the Church. Clearly, he is orthodox in that he believes all that the Church teaches. But time will tell whether he is a great pope like JPII or BXVI, an average pope, or simply a charismatic figure full of grand gestures whose bark is greater than his bite. All we can do is pray that he is another great pope.

Posted by Old Sue on Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 2:24 PM (EDT):

@Mary: Yes, and I expect a lot from Pope Francis…He mentions divorce…much has to be done in that area and his mention or the gay community. I am 86 and I know in my mother’s day and before, many marriages were “arranged” as women we mostly not in the workforce. [and some suffered for it] Today I suppose only Royalty may do this. Anyway life progresses and changes always have to be made. I have seen many within the Catholic Church. Some, goof & some not too good, but all of us our humans. I was fortunate to have two wonderful, loving parents and husband. May all three R.I.P. with the Lord.

Posted by mary on Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 1:19 PM (EDT):

I think we are blessed to have him as our Pope, I do miss the latin language and kneeling down to receive the Blessed Sacrament but you have to go along with change sometimes. I really think he is a very Holy Pope.

Posted by Gloria Schotten on Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 12:55 PM (EDT):

All I know is that I trust him and that’s all there is to it. He is God’s man. ” Blessed is he who considers the poor!
The Lord delivers him in times of trouble;
the Lord protects and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; thou dost not give him up to the will of his enemies.
The Lord sustains him on his sick bed; in his illness thou heals all his infirmities.”

Posted by Old Sue on Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 12:36 PM (EDT):

I am holding my tongue on this one…Pope Francis is a surprise to everyone. I do know that when one translates from a foreign language to English, much can be lost. Expressions are different and also the meanings. I know this from having Italian parents and my mother explained this to me. [she being very Americanized having come to the U.S. at age 9. Sometimes the meaning of what is said in a foreign language just cannot be explained perfectly. I do not speak Italian and I would ask her and she’d say “it is hard to explain the true meaning in English of what he/she meant.” Maybe we should wait for the “official translation”. I also do not know if Pope Francis speaks English, at least not fluently. Zenit has been wrong before in their accounts.

Posted by charles harmett on Saturday, Aug 3, 2013 6:54 PM (EDT):

In the interview, Pope Francis contemplates taking a vow of obedience to the Superior General of the Jesuits. I thought that the pope obeys God only. I believe that we are beginning to get to the crux of the matter here which also explains much of what he has said and the constant clarification which always seems to be needed. He is a Jesuit through and through and this Jesuitness seems to be at odds at times with tradition and with the magisterial teachings of the church. A religious order can never take precedence over the church. The order is part of the church.

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About Edward Pentin

Edward Pentin began reporting on the Pope and the Vatican with Vatican Radio before moving on to become the Rome correspondent for the National Catholic Register. He has also reported on the Holy See and the Catholic Church for a number of other publications including Newsweek, Newsmax,Zenit, The Catholic Herald, and The Holy Land Review, a Franciscan publication specializing in the Church and the Middle East. Follow on Twitter @edwardpentin